Just about every day now the online media is doing the government's job for it by telling us how a cashless society is "inevitable". News.com is the main offender; but there is no doubt that it is the mainstream , not the politicians, who are brainwashing the great unwashed and putting all sorts of ideas into their heads. People used to smirk about Russia's Pravda being the mouthpiece of the Communist government, but it is all of our mainstream media doing the government's bidding here nowadays.

People might be OK with a "cashless society", but 95% of them want card surcharges banned.

So do banks.

The head of NAB has declared against "outrageous surcharges forced on Australian consumers". He said, "It's possible that surcharges were warranted twenty years ago, but they no longer make any sense.

If it's not the banks pushing the greed, what cabal of bastards is it?

Surcharges are outlawed in Europe, Canada, the US and the UK.

It is the banks, and probably their central banks pushing it onto them.
It gives them too much power in my opinion.
They know all your customers and suppliers, as well as your competitors customers and suppliers.
- With all the knowledge of your business as well as your competitors business, they then know more about your business than you do.

And why do I want to try and sift through a bank statement that shows everytime I bought a coffee?
I want my bank statement easy to go through, only larger payments or purchases matter, not coffees or mcdonalds

AC,

If it's the banks, how do you account for the National Australia Bank's boss's statement?

What has your bank statement got to do with surcharges on cards?

Slightly off the topic, I withdraw cash from a non-bank ATM fortnightly. The banks don't want to provide ATMS, so others have to do it, and they have to charge.

Fair enough. But this fortnight the charge went from $3 to $3.98.

Dear Ttbn,

«People might be OK with a "cashless society", but 95% of them want card surcharges banned.»

I am just the opposite - I only use cash and there are more and more things I cannot do as a result.

Surcharges are good - they prolong the use of cash!

Yuyutsu

I use both, but mainly cash. I'm not going to die in a ditch for cash, although I don't think it should disappear. The main thing that I'm against is the surcharges. If people want us to use electronic payments only, they have a cheek to expect us pay extra to do so. If charges can be be illegal in other countries, they can be outlawed here too. Australians are weak, allowing little tyrannies to sneak in until we end up completely under the thumb of the Total State.

Dear Ttbn,

A prohibition of cash will certainly bring us much faster completely under the thumb of the Total State (and large corporations as well) than the loss of a few dollars on surcharges.

Moreover, should people not be allowed to transact directly between them then the Total State will no longer be run by human politicians, corrupt as they may be, but by machines:
I rather die in a ditch, fighting to the last bullet, than allow the world to be ruled by computers.

As something like 90% of everyday purchases are being made with "card" today, it would indicate the days of cash are disappearing fast. The government should regulate against surcharges if they are shown to be unwarranted. A bigger danger is the availability of consumer credit in the form of "After Pay" or "Interest Free" these hurt consumers far more than surcharges. Other deceptive practices such as so call discounts should be clamped down on as well. Loyalty cards are another, as are things like fly buys a cost to consumers.

My wife received a text message from a large clothing retailer on Friday, basically offering garments for $5. She went into the store yesterday, lots of in store advertising offering imaginary discounts of up to 50% off. Asked about the $5 stuff, woman said "Oh that's only at some stores" (not stated in the text) after some "discussion" the woman found the $5 rags. It was a con to get people into the store.

Cashless is literally buying revolt ! Those who haven't experienced when "the lines are down" should try & think of the frustrations when you can't do your shopping !

Yuyutsu

The “loss of a few dollars” to individuals is a massive gain (in the billions) to the already rich and powerful who are pulling your strings. You will not die in a ditch: you will continue dying slowly as the screws are slowly turned.

In the West, the water in the pot has been growing hotter for the last 50 years, but only a few of the frogs have noticed that it is now close to boiling.

Indyvidual,

Yes. Good point. Those lines have been down several times lately, and the frogs take little notice. It only lasts a short time they think, if they think at all. They are already being trained to think power outages due to renewable energy are to be expected and part of “saving the environment”.

According to Anna Bligh, ex Queensland Premier, now CEO of the Australian Banking Association, many small businesses “may” be unaware that they CANNOT apply a surcharge if they don't take cash.

I wonder if Gloria Jeans, going cashless this month, knows that. I believe that coffee drinkers are being relieved of an extra 8 cents per cup if they pay electronically.

As Australians are “the people least likely in the world to pay with cash”, they are also the least likely to be budget conscious or care one way or the other: despite their rants about CPI.

Even so, I wouldn't have thought it was not a good idea to test customers’ loyalty during what most people see as very tough economic times.

Dear Ttbn,

«You will not die in a ditch: you will continue dying slowly as the screws are slowly turned.»

Nice metaphor, but how does it apply?

If no cache is allowed, then I will die within some weeks, the time it takes once I cannot buy food and starve to death.

The unfortunate trend towards a cashless society is just the result of technological advancements and consumer preferences.

We can resist it by continuing to use cash, choosing not to purchase from places that only accept cash, and raising awareness.

There are a multitude of reasons as to why a cashless society is a bad thing. They’re all evidence-based, too, so there is no reason to assume that a “cabal” is behind the trend.

(Notice no one here has had to resort to cherry-picking data like they do with the other conspiracy theories proposed on this forum?)

Hi John,

Is it "unfortunate" that a "cashless" society is on the rise. People might look at a card surcharge (which I think is probably unjustified) and say; "Look its costing me money!", but the reality is the use of cash costs money, with hidden overheads in its handling and distribution. Then there is a danger of theft and loss with cash as well, just as the white collar criminal might rip off your card, the blue collar criminal might rip off your head and take your cash.

Anyway, I've been part of the "cashless" society for years, I put everything "on account"....ON ACCOUNT I'VE GOT NO MONEY!.

Dear Paul,

Thank you for wishing me dead.

If those pushing for cashless accept responsibility for failing to secure access to our accounts well, fine. However, until they commit to being responsible then not fine !
What most people don't realise is as to who are the real pushers for cashless. Nor the ones taking the risks that's for sure ! The pushers aren't from here so they'll never be held responsible.

Yuyutsu

"Dear Paul, Thank you for wishing me dead"

YOU ARE AN OUTRAGES LIAR! FULL STOP! I never have said such a thing!

Dear Paul,

Two posts before your previous post I wrote to Ttbn that if cash is prohibited then I would starve to death within several weeks.

My apologies if you have not read my previous post.

BTW, in that same post you mentioned that cash has its overheads:
I am happy to pay a fair surcharge for covering these overheads, just keep those filthy electronic gadgets away from me!

In 2021 in Australia, the ACCC wacked Nine Entertainment with a $159,840 fine plus a payback to customers of $450,000 for charging excessive surcharges.

While permissible surcharges are currently less than 0.05% for Eftpos, 0.05%-1% for Mastercard and Visa Debit cards, 1%-1.5% for Mastercard and Visa Credit cards, some crooks have been charging 2% and more for all cards.

When I recently used a debit card for petrol, clothing, a car service, and a new refrigerator, there were NO surcharges at all. Remember, if traders do add a surcharge they must display the amount at the checkout.

There are laws: it's not Rafferty's Rules. But the best bet is to deal only with a no surcharge-trader or use cash. Also remember, a trader who does not accept cash must not add a surcharge.

Yuyutsu

You posted; "If no cache is allowed" what is this cache? a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place.

Regardless of what choice about "those filthy electronic gadgets" you choose to make is your business, its no reflection on me. I have never wished you dead, although at one time on this forum you stated the World's population should be culled by 97% or about 7.5 billion people. Your death will help reduce the number. If you are going to make outrageous statements, at least make them honestly, and don't be a liar.

Dear Paul,

«You posted; "If no cache is allowed" what is this cache? a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place.»

Oops, my spelling error, it happens: I meant cash.

Caches are mostly found on computer CPU chips and computer motherboards: a cache is a temporary storage, a copy of commonly used sections of the computer's memory so they can be accessed faster.

«although at one time on this forum you stated the World's population should be culled by 97% or about 7.5 billion people.»

No, I never suggested that the reduction in population should be implemented by culling anyone - it should rather be done by a moratorium on procreation.

«I have never wished you dead»

You took this too literally, perhaps because you have not read my earlier post, which was the context of my statement:
you probably do not want me dead, but your wish to abolish cash, if fulfilled, would likely bring about my death.

Yuyutsu

I know you meant cash. But, as always, there is one poster who will use any opportunity to make a personal attack on another poster. Responding to the barely-literate idiot only makes him worse.

On the actual topic of a cashless society, we older people have to accept that that people of our generation are not respected in our society, and that our own generation is as silly on the subject as the rest of them. Many old people live their lives vicariously through their grandchildren, and think that they are tech-smart. That’s why it's mainly older people who get scammed.

You should stick to your guns, and bugger the know-alls, and the particularly nasty, non-contributory oaf.

Hi Yuyutsu,

I posted an observation on the way social change is heading in regards to everyday consumer financial transactions, and that is definitely in favour of "card", I did not offer any opinion one way or the other. My preferred option is for both, as it generally is now. However, if the decline in the use of cash continues then its inevitable that cash will simply progressively disappear. The government will decide to remove cash from common use.

Your use of the word "cache" (not a typo for cash); not knowing you, I simply assumed you might be some sort of 'Doomsday Prepper' with a cache of supplies in anticipation of Armageddon. I consider you more intelligent than some bed wetting Old Fart, but that's no recommendation.

p/s I do enjoy our exchanges, but I don't wish anyone dead, not you, not even a bed wetting Old Fart who is well past his use by date, not that he ever had one.

Thank you Paul,

«p/s I do enjoy our exchanges, but I don't wish anyone dead, not you, not even a bed wetting Old Fart who is well past his use by date, not that he ever had one.»

At least an old fart like myself can no longer do any further damage, like what I had to do for money when I was employed and considered useful.

This is why I support UBI (Universal Basic Income) or similar mechanisms that sever the hard connection between employment and survival, so that people will only be working in industries/roles which they themselves consider helpful to others.

Hi Yuyutsu,

Old Fart is an "ism" in my book, its a person, regardless of age, who is regressive, thoughtless, insensitive, intolerant, insecure, living in the past, wanting to wind back to clock to a bygone era. A person of 25 could qualify as an Old Fart, totally regressive, as could some old bed wetting octogenarian, but not necessarily. I don't have a clue as to your age, and I don't consider you suffer from Old Fartism.

Old Fart is an "ism" in my book, its a person, regardless of age, who is regressive, thoughtless, insensitive, intolerant, insecure, living in the past, wanting to wind back to clock to a bygone era.
Paul1405,
You're literally exceptionally brilliant at being wrong. What you're referring to & you're a rather fine example of it is "Useless Old Fart" a person, regardless of age, who is aggressive, vindictive, jealous & living by the grace of those who are the opposite to you & who have a much, much healthier mentality than any Woke could ever hope to comprehend & demanding for everyone else to do what you should be doing instead of looking for a World that you & the likes of you will never allow to exist !
btw. I'd like to congratulate you on not having to resort to the word "racism" for some time now.

what cabal of bastards is it?
ttbn,
Those who are working on bringing Nations to their knees as this is one of the avenues they can worm their way into controlling that agenda.

Indyvidual

The cashless society would be another instrument of control; but the main problem is the way people these days meekly, or happily, accept control as long as they get a lot of free stuff and have what used to be personal responsibility removed from their shoulders by socialist governments who always end up being tyrants.

Oh well it will not be long before we pay a surcharge for withdrawing
cash from the bank.
Armourguard is in financial trouble due to the small amount of cash
that has to be transported to and from the banks.
There is no answer to that problem as card use has become so well
established.
Notice the kuffle when you offer cash in some coffee shops, even
though their cash registers can tell them the change to give it is
still an ordeal for the staff.

Do people still go into banks? Around me such things have disappeared, along with them the ATMs where you used to be able to withdraw money at no charge, but only if you had an account at that particular bank.

Now that the banks have ceased providing services, independent companies have installed ATMs in some shopping centres, and everyone pays because that's how the companies maintain the service. The one I use was charging $3 irrespective of the amount withdrawn; now it is $3.98.